It's always annoying when prices rise, but Bigfoot was a steal at $10/sixer so a small price increase doesn't offend me. This year I decided to start getting one case a year specifically to age, so eventually I'll have a healthy supply of old Bigfoot. The switch to four packs probably won't affect my plans at all (I'll only get cases from reasonable retailers, of course).

I always had a hard time believing they were making any money off this beer considering the ridiculous amount of hops, malts and boil time. So I'm not going to complain. At least we got to enjoy it while it lasted.

Ah Corpulent, hopefully you will see the error of your ways next time you attempt to discredit beerandraiderfan, especially in regards to Bigfoot (re: 4 packs, told ya).

Actually, given the almost 25% jump in price for this year of Bigfoot 6 packs ($11.99-13.99 in Reno v. 9.99-10.99 last year), I think they might actually come down a little rather than charge the exact same price. I'm sure there's some psychology about jack the price before cutting the quantity down by 33%, but drop the price 10% compared to the six pack, probably "feels" like a price reduction. So I'm thinking 4 packs, $9.99-10.99 in this neck of the woods next year.

Beer Trader

I had my first taste of Bigfoot this year and the sixer was perfect. I put one away for aging and consumed the rest over the course of a week.
SN is always good with their prices so why automatically assume the same cost?

I had my first taste of Bigfoot this year and the sixer was perfect. I put one away for aging and consumed the rest over the course of a week.
SN is always good with their prices so why automatically assume the same cost?

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it's not SN I'm worried about, it's the distributors and retailers, who have a strong track record of maintaining prices on a one-way street.

Beer Trader

Ugh ... and retailers will sell them at the same price as the six-pack.

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That's the point. They are forced to raise prices, but they know that (for whatever reason) consumers are less put off by an $10/4pk than they are by a $15/6pk, even though it's the same price per bottle. Widmer does the exact same thing with their 924 series. They're more expensive per case than the Hefe and Drifter, but they're priced so that they end up on the shelf at the same price point, assuming the retailer uses the same margin for every beer. In other words, if they're not on sale, 6pks of Hefe and 4pks of Nelson should both hit the shelves at $8.49-$8.99 each.

SN seems to do things in a very careful, calculated fashion, so I would assume that their market research indicated that consumers would be more receptive to the increased price per bottle as long as the "package price" (whether 4pk or 6pk) didn't increase too dramatically.

Don't get me wrong, I hate to see price increases just as much as everyone, but you have to admit that $12/6pk ($2/bottle) is incredibly affordable for a 9.5% barleywine with a ridiculous amount of hops in it. Frankly. I'm amazed that the price has stayed consistent for the last 3-4 years when everyone else has been raising prices and blaming it on the hops shortage or whatever.

Beer Trader

Per sierranevadabill (as reported on beerpulse.com), they were not making money on Bigfoot. Bill really has not steered the BA community astray, so I think we have to believe him. I think we all want to see SN do well, and selling their product at a profit is part of that. I'm cool with the change.

Are you bothered by the fact they're going to a 4 pack or the price increase? Because honestly, Bigfoot has always been criminally underpriced.

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I just don't care for 4 packs really, I'd rather a sixer for the 2 extra beers because it's a little easier to throw one or two in the cellar and still have 4-5 to drink. I can totally understand where SN is coming from though; I'll just miss the killer value of the bigfoot six pack.

Beer Trader

I just don't care for 4 packs really, I'd rather a sixer for the 2 extra beers because it's a little easier to throw one or two in the cellar and still have 4-5 to drink. I can totally understand where SN is coming from though; I'll just miss the killer value of the bigfoot six pack.

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You could always buy two 4pks. Then you could drink a few and still have 4-5 to cellar.

It's always annoying when prices rise, but Bigfoot was a steal at $10/sixer so a small price increase doesn't offend me. This year I decided to start getting one case a year specifically to age, so eventually I'll have a healthy supply of old Bigfoot. The switch to four packs probably won't affect my plans at all (I'll only get cases from reasonable retailers, of course).

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If it goes from $10 a sixer to $10 a 4-pack, that's more than a small price increase. It's nearly a 50% increase in cost per bottle.

If it goes from $10 a sixer to $10 a 4-pack, that's more than a small price increase. It's nearly a 50% increase in cost per bottle.

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I doubt it will actually be $10 a four pack, at least at retailers that price things reasonably (my condolences if you don't have one nearby).

That aside, as others have agreed, Bigfoot was almost criminally underpriced at $10/sixer. A 50% increase seems big, yes, but given the low price to start I don't think it's anything crazy. It would still be dramatically cheaper than most any comparable barleywine (I'm sure there are exceptions, but none come to mind).